We recommend you view the Academic Calendar for full details of when each course is offered, pre-requisites, credits and any restrictions.

MA801

Research Methods in Applied Theology

This course is designed to support postgraduate students in developing a research project in Applied Theology, and to assist them in defining their mode of enquiry. The first part of the course focuses on students identifying a research programme using their own professional, voluntary, or pastoral practice, as the foundation. The second part looks at a range of theoretical perspectives on research generally, as well as perspectives specific to their own research project. The third part of the course moves onto specific operational aspects of the research process. From this grounding in research issues and techniques students will plan a research topic through to the credit of designing a research instrument. This does not commit students to that topic in their ongoing studies. However it does place them in a good position to move into their thesis work.

Throughout this course students are exposed to structures that provide both practical and spiritual support for the researcher. In light of this students will develop their own supportive research environment.

MA814

Palestine in the time of Jesus

2019

This trip is fully booked.

This course takes place onsite in Israel and Palestine where we journey through historical sites relevant particularly to the New Testament. This course is primarily focused on historical concerns and it addresses text in its historical and geographical context. Preparatory work will take place through assigned topics addressing places and people from the biblical story; we will then become teachers of one another as we are guided around archaeological sites. The onsite component is a two week guided journey to: Caesarea, Megiddo, Elijah’s Cave, Acre, the Galilee, the Golan Heights, Bet She’an, Qumran, Masada, the Dead Sea, Tel Salata (ancient Shechem), Samaritan Village, Jacob’s Well, Sebastia, Bethlehem, and several days in Jerusalem. Email Sarah Harris for more details [email protected] Limited places are available.

MA825

Special Topic: (Ministry)

Public Theology and Social Justice

29 April – 1 May

28 – 30 August

Dr Derek Woodard-Leeman

This course explores the contribution of public theology to the pursuit of social justice. “Public theology” names the Church’s contribution to political discourse about the common good.

“Social justice” names the ideal of rightly ordered relationships in which each receives their due and all have a share in the common good. This course, first, investigates various conceptions of “public theology” and “social justice.” It next examines two significant historical examples from the last century: the Confessing Church’s resistance to Nazism in the German Reich (1930’s-1940’s) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s resistance to racism in the American South (1940’s-1960’s).

It then engages several contemporary issues of social justice: terrorism and the war on terror, human rights, and euthanasia. Throughout, we focus on the biblical and theological basis for Christian engagement with social issues, the relationship between faith and politics, social dynamics of cultural diversity and religious pluralism, and the role of Christian leaders in public life.

MA824

Special Topic (Missions):

Reading Paul Missionally

8 – 10 July

3 – 5 September

Block Course

Prof Michael Gorman and Dr George Wieland

This course in missional hermeneutics explores some of Paul’s letters to discover Paul’s understanding of the missio Dei (God’s mission) in Christ and by the Spirit, and our participation in that mission. We will examine Paul’s vision of individuals and communities that not only speak the good news but also embody it in such missional practices as faithfulness, reconciliation, justice, and enemy-love. The close, missionally sensitive reading of his letters will combine with missionally sensitive readings of the students’ own contexts to generate missional conversations and guide practice. The course will include two three-day intensives, one facilitated by Dr Michael Gorman and the other by Dr George Wieland.

MA823

Special Topic (Theology):

Third Article Theology

26 – 27 July

19 – 23 August

Dr Myk Habets and Dr Greg Liston

Third Article Theology (TAT) is a new theological movement utilizing a distinctly pneumatological approach to developing Christian doctrine. By examining Christian beliefs and practices through the lens of the Spirit, it aims to equip the church to “act its age”—proclaiming a timely message appropriate for our current context, leading to practical applications for life, mission, and ministry. In addition to the lecturers, the course will include sessions from leading TAT scholars from around the world.

MB636

Research Essay

The Research Essay provides students with an opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of a topic or issue in Applied Theology under the guidance of a supervisor. The topic will normally be in an area that the student wishes to explore but is outside the scope of available courses in the academic programme. The student will acquire specialist knowledge of a specific field of Applied Theological study and develop skills in research, the evaluation of evidence and the articulation of ideas.

The Research Essay is a maximum length of 15,000 words including footnotes and excluding bibliography.

MA903

Thesis

The thesis is a scholarly piece of written work that reports on the findings of theoretical, practical, or empirical investigation into a defined area of applied theology conducted by the student under supervision. Undertaking a thesis provides students with an opportunity to do original in-depth research at Masters level. Students will engage in a supervised investigation of a topic of their interest. Students are expected to be self-directed in their studies and to produce an account of their research which equates to internationally recognized standards.